"the novel," etc.

[intertribal]

I've decided to start working on the novel again.  This is a big step for me, but I imagine it means nothing to most, haha.  "The novel" in this case refers to a saga/story I came up with about freshman year of college, after I had finished up the seven-book-series I spent middle school and high school writing.  "The novel" is the first of one of those dreaded trilogies, and I got halfway through the second book before I got tired of it, mainly because I realized I didn't know where the hell I was going.  This is why you worldbuild and outline, boys and girls.  Anyway I feel strongly about "the novel," and giving up on it entirely was never an option. 

The seven-book-series will never see the light of day because it has all the problems you'd expect a 15-year-old's stories to have, but it's always interesting when I see themes from that series arise again in "the novel."  And I mean, I realize these similarities like years after the fact.  It's good, though.  It means I'm thinking about "the novel" as a story and not just my accumulated babbles!

1.  I've never seen the movie Stigmata, but I feel like I should, because I have a real Stigmata thing going on.  
2.  The "religious right."  Although my feelings in re: this issue are pretty much summed up by the X-Files episode "Signs and Wonders."  
3.  Frowned-upon marriages.
4.  Social exile.  Class issues.  Communities that eat their own.
5.  Militarism.  Military leaders.  Law enforcement.  Abuse of power (by all characters).
6.  (Negative) Self-fulfilling prophecies.
7.  Competing definitions of what makes a "man."  The role of violence.
8.  Revenge.  Lots and lots of it.  I'm pretty sure this is a reason I like Sons of Anarchy; I'm all about the revanchism, mothafucka.
9.  Guilt, Revenge's ugly sister.

And I am doing this issues differently - more nuanced, I hope, and expanded in different directions - but I guess these are recurring themes for me.

Comments

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

I just mean that it's different from the main ones I've heard you talk about? There are others I haven't read, if I'm understanding you correctly.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, probably not. It used to be called Ilium, but it's not anymore, and significant renovations have been planned. So, uh, same one I've been thinking about all through college.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, okay. I was like what, secret novel? And then I was embarrassed if I forgot it...

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

hahahaha

man, it's not like I talked about it that much, I wouldn't blame you if you did forget.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

you did too!

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

really?? it's been such a long time!

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

http://intertribal.livejournal.com/253811.html

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'd forgotten I'd written that. Also, that was after the renovation process had begun, because clearly everybody's names had changed. That's when I started freaking out about the fact that I hadn't done any analytical prepwork for it at all (like figured out protag, antag, conflict, blah blah blah).

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not always sure what you're talking about because i get the feeling you're venting half to yourself, but I do still read and remember these things...

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

LOOL

Yeah, I am definitely venting to myself. That is sweet that you read and remember, however.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

Well, it's important to you, so I remember it. In a very different way than you do, but still.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

http://intertribal.livejournal.com/272694.html
http://intertribal.livejournal.com/270480.html
http://intertribal.livejournal.com/256662.html

etc.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Man, I forget how much I write in here.